Double Ewes, Damsel Trash, Cave Curse, Tippy

Madison/Janesville acid-Americana outfit Double Ewes have always been a scarce resource. They don't play live too often these days, and it's taken them over three years to follow up their self-titled debut. As evidenced by the ornate production and potent songwriting on their new full-length Dead Furrow, the trio of crooner-guitarist Whilden Hughes, keyboardist Jeremy Nealis, and bassist Max Jewer have been lording over and learning piles of electronic samplers, drum machines, and synths, and laboring hard in the studio. Spacey, sun-blasted cruisers like soaring opener "Pride" and "How Many Times" blend head-massaging synth frequencies, shimmering guitar riffs, and Hughes' tasteful crooning with sprawling atmosphere. On poppier cuts like "Dead Furrow" and "Big Blank Page," Hughes' quavering vocals come into focus and electronic rhythms steer the tunes along. As difficult as it may sound on paper, Double Ewes have managed to make another record that tastefully blends folk-rock with with electronic music. —Joel Shanahan